Chapter 17 17

Chapter 17 17


Chapter 17 – Shift
Odessa’s POV

I slumped against the wall of the shower, trying to wash away the remnants of the shame I felt with hot water. Hades left my pack early in the morning without me. I woke up expecting to find him at the breakfast table, but he was gone. Embarrassment, anger, and fear consumed me.
He had left without saying a word to me and he hadn’t rejected me. I should have given him some time as Raven suggested, but I didn’t listen. I never listen.
Olympia was heartbroken and I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. With every passing hour, I felt worse, sickened. Hades has been living in the human world, he probably had a human girlfriend. I could feel his wolf’s pull to me, but Hades was unsure. I was no fool. I was not going to sit and wait around to feel my mate cheating on me. I packed a bag and told my brother I was staying at a girlfriend's house for a few days.
I drove over three hours imagining how I was going to reject him. How he was going to suffer in pain over the broken bond, maybe even beg me to change my mind. I convinced myself that he had been protective and kind to me because of his wolf. It was his wolf who wanted his mate, not Hades. Seeing him with the blond confirmed everything I suspected. She was human and she was in his arms. He had brought a human to pack territory, which meant he was serious about keeping her.
Nothing was as it seemed and an hour later, our wolves caved to instinct. The worst part was, that I had allowed it. I hadn’t tried to stop Olympia because in that moment, when our wolves ran side by side, everything felt right.

I turned off the water and reached for two towels, one for my hair, the other for my body. The bathroom had steamed up from my shower, so I pulled the pocket door open that separated the bedroom to help the ventilation. Hades stood in the doorway, tall and dark, holding my bag. His eyes trained on me, drinking me in.
I wrapped my arms around my chest and looked up to meet his gaze. Say something, I silently scolded myself, but nothing came to mind. It was surprising how physical his gaze felt on my skin. I raised my eyebrows and nodded to my bag.
“Your bag,” he took a few steps in and dropped the bag. Something in his dark eyes shifted and he focused on my neck. Heat flooded through me and the air in the room seemed to have evaporated with the steam from my shower. My neck! He was looking at my neck. I turned my back to him, and my hand reached for my neck. This wasn’t going to be a hickey of some kind, it was a claiming mark.
“Thank you,” I managed to mutter, trying to get a grip on myself. He took three quick strides towards me, and I felt the warmth of his body against my back. He wasn’t touching me, but he was so close the heat caressed my backside. The smell of fresh tonka filled my nose, tempting me. It was spicy, clean, and woodsy. We stood motionless for a few moments and my nerves rose with every passing second.
“If you need anything, my room is next door,” he said before he turned to leave, taking his heat and comfort with him.
The door closed with a soft click, and I rushed back into the bathroom to look in the mirror. Teeth marks stared back at me. Haze had left his claiming mark when he bit Olympia. Claiming marks had to be willingly given by both the wolf and human side to be permanent. It would take a few days, but the mark would fade and disappear. I knew deep inside this mark was not given by Hades. It was an attempt by his wolf to claim his mate.
This was just my luck. I could hide my neck from my pack, but I couldn’t hide my scent. I didn’t have any evvie tea and I didn’t know how to get my hands on some. I wondered how long it would take for my scent

to return to normal. Now that Olympia had found her mate, would she go into heat?
I slipped my pajamas on and plopped on the bed. My body felt just as relaxed as it did at home, and it didn’t take long for me to drift to sleep. When I woke up, the sun was shining through a crack in the curtains. The clock on the nightstand told me it was almost nine in the morning, and I couldn’t remember the last time I slept so long. Reaching for my bag, I found my long denim skirt and a black wrap top which was excellent for cleavage but terrible for trying to hide my neck.
I brushed my hair out and pull it over the front of my shoulder to hide the left side of my neck. After I finished my morning routine, I slipped on some earrings and left the room. Be strong. Be strong, I reminded myself as I took the stairs. His voice floated up as I neared the bottom level of the stairs, and I froze on the spot.
“It’s no problem at all…” he was assuring someone. Like a voyeur, I slowly tipped my head around the bend of the stairs to see who he was talking to. A child was standing with her arms wrapped around his leg, hugging him.
“It’s your personal card,” the female replied.
“It has no limit, treat yourself as well. I’d take you both, but I have Alpha LaRue coming today,” he told her as he stroked the top of the little girl's head.
Time seemed to grind to a stop. Who the hell was she? And was that his pup? Is this what he’s been hiding? Is this why he was conflicted about a mate? And why was Raven’s father coming here today? My stomach was in knots.
“Thank you,” she took the card and quickly wrapped her arms around him. A low growl rippled from me before I could stop myself and Hades looked up with a knowing grin.

“The car is waiting for you, and make sure Thea gets some ice cream today,” he said as the woman and child hurried off without an introduction.
“Alpha LaRue is coming here today?” Panic bubbled in my chest. He’ll know I’m here. One sniff and he’ll know what happened.
“He is. It seems my father had a few pack slaves and three had come from Zeus’ Howlers. I spoke with him this morning about returning the females home and he insisted on coming to escort them.”
“He’s such a good Alpha,” Olympia whispered in my head. “I should probably leave before he gets here.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” “I shouldn’t be here.”
“You should,” he quickly retorted. “Is she yours?” I asked.
“Who?” He looked confused.
“The little girl that was hugging your leg.”
“Thea? No, she’s the orphaned daughter of the former Gamma,” he looked amused.
“And the woman?”
“One of the former pack slaves who’s grateful. You’re not jealous again are you?” I felt his intense stare on me. His eyes darkened as they took in the deep neckline of the wrap knit shirt.
“I’m not jealous.”
“You’re a terrible liar. Come, you haven’t had breakfast yet.” he reached his hand out.

I moved down the remaining stairs and placed my hand in his without really thinking about it. The heat of his hand seeped into mine and sent warm waves of tingles. I was still angry with him but couldn’t seem to stay away from him.
“Good morning, Luna,” Ninos greeted me as we stepped into the kitchen.
“Her name isn’t Luna, it’s Odessa,” Alina corrected him.
“Right, Odessa,” he smirked. “If I’m not mistaken, Odessa means full of wrath,” Ninos looked amused. “Give him hell,” he whispered.
“Yes, and Konstantinos means constant. As in constant pain in the ass,” Hades huffed, his eyes looked darker. His wolf was trying to surface.
“We’re so happy to finally have you with us.” Maria beamed, though I wasn’t sure how long that happiness would last when everyone finds out I’m a Theodorus.
“I’m expecting Mr. LaRue here any moment now. Kazimir and I will meet with him in the office while you and Alina have breakfast with Ninos in the kitchen,” Hades told me.
“He’s going to know when he scents you,” I mind linked him. There was no way Alpha LaRue was not going to notice.
“Let me worry about that,” he replied.
I found myself seated at a large kitchen table with the others. Ninos chatted up a storm with Maria, he seemed to enjoy cooking and was discussing the difference between Greek honey and the other stuff the world considered honey. The natural flora found in Greece produced flavorful thyme honey not found anywhere else in the world. I reached for the honey and drizzled some on my yogurt. Ninos was right, there was nothing like Greek honey.

“You should top that off with figs. There are several fig trees on the property, I picked some this morning from the one behind the manor.”
“I love fresh figs,” I reached for the bowl in his hand. “So does Hades,” he grinned.
“What other types of trees do they have here?” Alina asked. “Mília, portokália, lemónia, kerásia, karydiá, ki alla,” Maria said.
“She means, apples, oranges, lemons, cherries, walnuts, and more,” Ninos told Alina.
“Oh yes,” Maria said as she just remembered Alina didn’t speak Greek. “Don’t worry, we’ll make you Greek in no time.” She smiled.
“Do you think it’s possible if we take a walk around the house? I’d like to see the fig tree.” Alina asked.
“I don’t know if Kazimir will like that,” Ninos replied.
“Please, I’ve been cooped up for over a week now. I don’t want to spend my birthday locked away all day,” She gave Ninos a pout.
“Happy Birthday!” Maria clapped. “I will make a cake tonight.”
“Some fresh air sounds good,” I said, needing to clear my head of Hades’ scent yet knowing it wasn’t going anywhere.
“Okay, just a quick one. Kazimir will kick my ass if you try anything,” Ninos reluctantly told Alina. She was going on a walk with two wolves, what could possibly go wrong.
We finished eating breakfast and I helped Maria with our breakfast dishes before we set out on our walk. I made small talk with Alina as I tried to keep my mind from thinking about Alpha LaRue. She didn’t have much to say about her home in Russia. From what I could decipher, she had no

family and grew up in America. She didn’t seem to have a clue about shifters or that she was Kazimir’s fated mate.
“And I thought we had problems,” Olympia snickered.
We moved closer to the tree line in the back of the manor and Alina froze up. She clenched and released her hands a few times. Alina closed her eyes for a moment and took a few deep breaths. If I didn’t know any better, I would have assumed she was scenting her surroundings. She looked tense, unsure.
“You don’t think that rabid wolf will come back do you?” She asked.
Ninos looked at me and chuckled. “No way, there’s safety in numbers.
Besides the tree is about two hundred yards from here.” “Do you live here?” Alina asked me.
“Um, well, not exactly. Hades and I are… dating.” I managed to spit out, not exactly sure what the hell we’re doing. Then I reminded myself what I told him last night, “We’re getting to know each other better.”
“That’s usually how relationships start,” Ninos smirked, scenting what had actually happened.
“How long have you and Kazimir been dating?” I asked. “We’re umm…” she looked to Ninos.
“Not that long,” Ninos answered for her. Something was off here, and Olympia was feeling it too. “I don’t even think Kazimir is aware today is your birthday,” he added.
“How old are you now?” I asked, she couldn’t be much older than me, maybe nineteen.
“I’m eighteen today,” she said, wrapping her arms around her waist as if someone had jabbed her.

I could hear her heart racing, she was on the brink of panic. “Are you okay?”
“I… I don’t know. I think I’m going to be sick.” Alina dropped to the ground, on all fours. “It hurts.” Her breathing was more labored.
“What hurts?” I questioned but received no reply. Her eyes shut tight, and she groaned in pain. “Alina, where does it hurt?”
Ninos looked down at her with a confused expression on his face. “I swear humans can be so fragile. Maybe it’s just trapped gas.”
“I don’t think it’s a fart,” I snapped.
“Who’s Anna?” She murmured to herself as she pressed her forehead into the ground.
“I’ll carry her back,” Ninos crouched down beside her.
“NO! Don’t touch her,” I realized what was happening. Olympia could sense it now. I tried to mind link with Hades, but he had figured out how to put the wall up through the mind link. He probably didn’t want me trying to read his thoughts when he was with Alpha LaRue.
“Ninos, go get Kazimir, and hurry.” “Kazimir?” He looked unsure.
“Tell him his mate is shifting and she needs him!” His mouth fell open with surprise and recognition.
“Kazimir is going to shit himself,” Ninos smiled and sprinted off. Turning my attention back to Alina, I placed my hand on her shoulder.
My wolf was strong because I was Alpha born and I hoped Alina’s wolf could feel my presence. “It’s going to be okay,” I tried to soothe her. Her face was beaded with sweat and fear was radiating around her.
“What’s happening to me?” She cried out.

She clearly had no idea what was happening. She knew nothing about our world, a world she was born in and sheltered from. She had been raised in the human world as a human.
“You’re going to be okay. The first time is the worst, but it gets better.” She groaned and rolled to her side.
“ALINA!” Kazimir’s Russian accented voice rang out as he dropped to my side.
He placed his hand on the back of Alina’s neck, gently caressing it. Her body instantly relaxed with his touch. Alina opened her blue eyes and they shifted to black as her wolf recognized her mate.
“Today is her eighteenth birthday,” I told him as his face twisted from the worried frown to relief.